The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission Announces Improvements In State Court Technology - Press Release

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The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission Announces Improvements In State Court Technology 
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<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2022 Press Releases</span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>September 21, 2022</strong></span></td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE COURT TECHNOLOGY</strong></p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission, which was established by Supreme Court Order September 10, 2020, today announced a number of technological improvements in Louisiana courts advanced over the past two years.</p><p>Those advancements include the following:</p><ul><li><strong>Website Rebuilding and Uniform Court Website Enhancements</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Louisiana Supreme Court Information Technology department provided staff support to build and launch new uniform websites for approximately half of the 42 judicial district courts in the state. The goal is to construct new websites for all district courts to help unify a non-unified court system. The new state court websites can be accessed at <a href="https://www.geauxtocourt.com" target="_blank">www.geauxtocourt.com</a>, which is hosted by the Louisiana District Judges Association.</p></li><li><strong></strong><strong>Legislation and Rule Changes</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;" margin-left:30px"="">In the 2021 legislative session, several provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure were amended to modernize the procedure for e-signing orders and judgments. Additional legislation was passed in 2022 that allowed for remote testimony for hearings and trials in the ordinary course of litigation.</p></li><li><strong>Online Forms Platform</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Technology Commission partnered with the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission to create guided forms that assist self-represented litigants. Currently, there are a couple of forms that were approved for use in Louisiana District Courts with more to follow. All completed forms can be accessed at <a href="https://www.geauxtocourt.com/forms" target="_blank">https://www.geauxtocourt.com/forms</a> and on the public resources page of the Louisiana State Bar Association: <a href="https://www.lsba.org/Public/FindLegalHelp/Forms.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.lsba.org/Public/FindLegalHelp/Forms.aspx</a></p></li><li><strong></strong><strong>Disaster Recovery/Disaster Assistance</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;" margin-left:30px"="">Subsequent to damage caused to the courts within Hurricane Ida&rsquo;s path in 2021, the Technology Commission contracted with an international company to provide cellular and internet capabilities for courts without local services. This allowed courts in the 14th Judicial District and 27th Judicial District to resume court operations on a remote platform even when there was insufficient cellular or internet service in the community. Because of the success of this endeavor, and with the continued threat of severe weather events potentially shutting down the court system, the Supreme Court contracted with the same company to provide two disaster recovery units for deployment in any area of the state, should the need arise.</p></li><li><strong>Cyber Security</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">Due to the growing number of cyber security attacks on courts and court data, the Supreme Court Technology Commission organized and sponsored two full-day cyber security trainings for judges and court personnel. This training will continue on an annual basis.</p></li><li><strong>Technology Training for Judges</strong><p style="margin-left:30px;">The Technology Commission recommended that the Louisiana Judicial College offer one (1) hour of technology education to all judges at each Judicial College Seminar. This recommendation was implemented in the summer of 2021 and to date, each Louisiana Judicial College program has included training in some aspect of technological applications or cyber-security for all judges statewide.</p></li><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission was originally established September 10, 2020 to identify technology needs, create a list of technology improvements, establish goals for implementation, devise best practices, and suggest necessary rule changes and steps towards implementation of articulated technology goals for the judiciary. The fifteen (15) members originally named to the Commission have, over the span of their two-year term, advanced the mission of designing a more accessible, efficient, and effective justice system by utilizing existing technologies in courts statewide. The work of the Commission continues with new members being named for a two-year term. Both the original task force and the current membership consist of fifteen (15) judges from all levels of court, who serve two (2) year terms.</p><p>The following members have been appointed for the current term:</p><table style=""><tbody><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court:</strong></td><td>Justice Jay McCallum; Justice Will Crain</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Courts of Appeal:</strong></td><td>Judge Jonathan Perry; Judge John Michael Guidry</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana District Courts:</strong></td><td>Judge Scott Schlegel (Chair), 24th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Laurie Brister, 6th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Nghana Lewis, 40th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Suzanne deMahy, 16th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Ellen Hazeur, Orleans Civil District Court <br />Judge Marla Abel, 17th Judicial District Court <br />Judge Clayton Davis, 14th Judicial District Court</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Juvenile Courts:</strong><span style="white-space:pre;"> </span></td><td>Judge David Matlock, Caddo Juvenile Court&nbsp;</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana Fanily Courts:</strong></td><td>Judge Pamela Baker, East Baton Rouge Family Court</td></tr><tr style=""><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Louisiana City Courts:</strong></td><td>Judge Bryan Haggerty, City Court of East St. Tammany <br />Judge Doug Saloom, Lafayette City Court</td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;"><strong>Justice of the Peace:</strong></td><td>Justice of the Peace: Judge Kevin Centanni, Jefferson Parish</td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission continues to explore new ways to increase efficiency and accessibility within the court system. Other projects being explored include a statewide court interpreter platform, greater remote accessibility to courts in rural areas, online calendaring and scheduling, regional staff attorneys, cyber security, and assistance with work towards a statewide warrant registry. Information on the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission is available at <a href="https://www.geauxtocourt.com" target="_blank">www.geauxtocourt.com</a>.</p><p><strong>For more information&nbsp;visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></ul>
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